Method of preparing a press for printing and printing press



Nov. 29, 1938. w. MATUSCHKE METHOD OE PREPARING- A PRESS P T PRINTIMGAND PRINTING PRESS Filed Oct. 12, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR m 77/4 B 1 W l ,4 @w a/M, W A TTORNE n5 Nov. 29, 1938. w. MATUSCHKE 2,138,704

METHOD OF PREPARING A PRESS FCR PRINTIMG AND PRINTING PRESS Filed Oct.12, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 2 L: [N VENTOR B Y I A TTORNE n5" Nov. 29, 1938.w, MATUSCHKE METHOD OF PREPARING A PRESS FOR PRINTIMG AND ER'INTINGPRESS Filed Oct. 12, 1936 35 Sheets-Sheet 55 IN VENTOR MA,

wflaw w I Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD OF PREPARING APRESS FOR PRINTING AND PRINTING. PRESS Walter Matuachke, Berlin, GermanyApplication October 12, 1936, Serial No. 105,249

9 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses of the rotary web typearranged for simultaneously printing multi-color work and single colorletter press work and to a method of preparing the 5 presses forprinting.

I am aware that it has been the practice in printing newspapers,consisting of some pages of multi-color illustration work and otherpages of single, color letter press work, to print the 10 multi-colorwork on one press and the single color work on another press, and tolead the printed webs from the respective presses to a common device forproper, arrangement and folding.

It has also been the practice, where it is desired to printsimultaneously, matter containing multi-color inserts and single colorletter press work, to use a single press provided with a bank of colorprinting units and also with a printing 2 unit for the single colorletter press work. In such a press, the paper web passes through thecolor printing units and the single color printing unit in series, andthence to the folding mechanism, and this is true regardless of whetherthe web is being 25 run for proof purposes or for regular printing. Inpreparing the single color letter press unit of the press for printing,the only time consuming factor is the work of fmake-readyf. With regardto the rnulti-color bank however, addi- 30 tional factors are involved,which, combined, consume far more actual time than that required forpreparing the letter press unit. For instance,

there is the time required for effecting proper registration of thedifferent colors and for effect- 35 ing proper color control, so thatwhen the colors are superimposed, the proper color effect will beobtained. I

As a consequence of these and other time consuming factors, 40considerably in advance of printing time, so that the necessary proofruns can be made to insure proper printing of the color work. It followstherefore, that in the preparation of a press for the simultaneousprinting of multi-color work 4,5 and single color letter press work, asheretofore carried out, the printing forms for the single color letterpress work were completed at the same time as the color forms, since theentire press had to be set up before the first proof runs E'o'uld 60 bemade; As a result, the use oi multi-color inserts on pages bearingsingle color letter press work has practically been precluded in, forexample, newspaper work, since the necessary time for preparation is notavailable between editions. Then, too, there is a considerable item ofexpense color forms must be made upinvolved in work of this character,resulting from wastage of paper and power. Obviously, since the proofsrequired of the letter press work are not near so numerous as those forthe color work, the extent to which excess letterpress proofs are run, acorresponding loss is sustained.

In accordance with the presentinvention, it is proposed to proof run themulti-color work separately from the single color letter press work,using for this purpose only the multi-color bank. After the color bankis ready for the regular run, the paper web is threaded through thecolor bank and the single color letter press unit in the desiredsequence, the unit for the letter press work having been prepared forprinting in the mean- 5 while. With this method of preparing the pressfor printing, the printing of the single color letter press work is notdelayed by the preparation for the multi-color work, since the forms forprinting the colored work can be made sufiiciently far 20 in advance ofthe forms for the letter press work, as to enable the color bankproperly to be prepared for printing by the time the later made single.color forms are ready to be run. In addition to being a time saver, thismethod.permits proof runs of the multi-color work to be made at normalpress speeds, because of its economy as far as paper wastage isconcerned, and consequently will give a truer reflection of the finalcopy than if the press were run at slower speeds during prooftaking, apractice which is now followed.

In ca ying out the method of the invention, it is proposed to providethe color bank, which includes the necesasry number of printing unitsrequired for the multi-color work, with a windup roll adjacent the lastcolor printing unit therein, means also being provided for driving themulti-color printing units independently or in synchronism with theletter press unit. 40

According to this arrangement, the operator can prepare the printingunits in the color bank for printing independently, allowing sufficienttime for the work of "make-ready", securing proper color control andeffecting proper color registration, while leaving the single colorletter press free for other work, or for the later prepnation forprinting of the single color letter press work. Also in accordance withthe invention, it is proposed to employ an auxiliary feed roll with thebank of color units in order to facilitate the running of color proofs,while leaving the main feed rolls free for use with the latter pressunits, if it is desired to run the latter independently while the colorbank is being prepared for printing.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a single unit rotary web press equippedwith the present improvements, and in which the improved method can bepracticed;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a multiple unit rotary web presslikewise equipped with the present improvements;- and in which theimproved method can be practiced; and

' Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating adifferent order of printing the multi-color and single color work.

In Fig. 1, there is illustrated a rotary press, including a bank A ofcolor printing units arranged in tandem with a single color letter pressunit 3 and a folding unit C, all of which may be of usual construction.The color bank, as shown, includes by way of example, three printingunits (although more could be employed if desired), consisting of theimpression rolls A A and A with their respective printing rolls A A andA, the latter being provided each with inking devices A" of the usualcharacter and from which the different colored inks are supplied to therespective printing forms. The single color letter press unit includes apair of impression rolls B and B with their respective'printing rolls1?, and 3*, the latter being provided each with a suitable inkingmechanism B Below the color bank, there is located the paper source E,which. includes a plurality of paper rolls E mounted on a spider Erotatably arranged to bring one or another of the rolls into use. Duringthe proof runs, as well as the regular printing runs, a paper web Dpasses through the color printing units in ,series, between therespective printing forms A A APandimpression rolls A A A the web beingguided in its travel by intermediate guide rolls D Upon leaving thecolor bank A, the web passes over g'uiderolls D and D and thence downpast another guide roll D During the preparation of the multi-colorunits for printing, i. e., during the proof runs, the web D passes fromthe guide roll D directly to a wind-up roll F, the multi-color bank atthis time being operated entirely independent of the letter press unitB.

After the color units have been fully prepared for printing, i. e.',when the work of makeready has been completed, the proper color controlobtained and the color impressions brought into proper registry, the WebD is severed from the wind-up roll F and guided by means of the rolls DD and D", first between the impression roll B and the printing roll B ofthe single color letter press unit toprint on one side of the web (theside previously printed in color),.and thence between the impressionroll B and the printing roll B to print on the other side of the web.Upon leaving the letterpress unit, the web passes over a guide roll D tothe folding apparatus C, previously alluded to.

In'Fig. 2, there is illustrated a multiple unit rotary printing pressdesigned for the simultaneous printing of three paper webs each inmulticolor work and in single color letter press work. Each of the pressunits G (only one of which will be described, since all are identical inconstruction, see Figs.2 and 3) consists of a multicolor bank H and asingle color letter press unit I. The color bank H is arranged above theletter' press stage and includes three impression a rolls H H and H withtheir respective printing rolls H H and H, the latter being providedeach with a suitable inking mechanism H The single color letter pressunit I includes two impression rolls 1 and I with their respectiveprinting rolls I and I the latter likewise being provided each with asuitable inking mechanism 1 Then, too, there are arranged below thepress units, the paper feed rolls J supported by an arrangement similarto that described in connection with Fig. 1. In addition to the usualpaper feed arrangement, however, there is provided with each unit G, anauxiliary paper feed roll K which may be used during the proof runningof the color work, in order that the feed rolls J may .be used ifdesired with the single color letter press unit I, in the event thelatter is desired to be run separately while the color bank is beingprepared for printing.

In preparing the color bank for printing, the paper web L is fed fromthe roll K (or in the alternative from the main feed roll J, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 2) directly to the color bank H, as shown indot-and-dash lines, passing in series between the impression rolls H 1-11-1 and their respective associated printing rolls H H K, through whichthey are properly directed by the intermediate guide rolls L Uponleaving the last printing unit of the color bank, the web is guided byguide rolls L and L to a wind-up roll M solely for proof purposes, as inthe case of the wind-up roll F in the embodiment previously described.

After the preparation of the color bank for printing has been completed,the paper web is taken from the main paper feed rolls J and, if it isdesired to print on one side of the web the single color work before themulti-color work, the web is threaded between the impression and printmgrolls 1 and I of the single color letter press unit, through the colorbank thence by means of additional guide rolls L and L between theimpression roll I and the printing roll I to print on the reverse sideof the web as shown in'Fig. 2. If it is desired to print on one side ofthe web, the multi-color work before the single color work, the webisthreaded first through the color bank, thence via guide rolls L and L"between the impression and printing rolls 1 and I and thereafter via aguide roll L and the guide rolls L and L between the impression andprinting rolls I and I to print the reverse side of the work, as shownin Fig. 3. Fromv the last printing and impression rolls, the web travelsover guide rolls D, L and L to a multiple web folding device N, which iscommon to all the printing units G.

Since with the present improvements, proof running of the multi-colo'rwork does not involve the operation of the letter press stages, thelatter may be used independently for other work, in which case the paperweb may be threaded from the feed rolls'J, past the guide roll L",between the impression andprinting rolls 1 and I to print one side ofthe web in single color, and

thence via the guide rolls L, L and L directly between the impressionand printing rolls F and I to print the other side of the web. After thethe drives of the other printing units for the regular printing runs.

has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, andobviously many variations and modifications may be made therein whichwill still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form,embodiment or sequence of operation, except insofar as such limitationsare specified in theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of proof printing in a rotary webb press equipped with aplurality of printing units arranged in series and adapted, during aregular printing run, simultan during proof taking through part only ofthe printing units to be used during said run so as to obtain anindication of the'readiness for printing of one portion of the workindependently of another portion thereof while leaving the remainder ofthe printing units free for use in another regular printing run.

2. The method of proof printing in a rotary web press equipped with aplurality of printing units arranged in series and adapted, during aregular printing run, to print a plurality of colors simultaneously onthe web, which method includes passing the web during proof takingthrough part only of the units to be used during said run so as toobtain an indication of the readiness for printing of one portion of thework independently of another portion thereof while leaving theremainder of the printing units free for use in another regular printingrun.

3. The method of proof printing in a rotary web press equipped-with abank of multi-color printing units and a single color printing unitarranged in series and adapted, during a regular printing run,simultaneously to print all the colors on the web, which method includespassing the web during proof taking through only the bank of multi-colorunitseto beused during said run so as to obtain an indication of thereadiness of the multi-color work for printing independently of thesingle color work while leaving the single color printing unit free foruse in another regular printing run.

4. The method'of proof printing in a rotary web press equipped with aplurality of printing units arranged in series and adapted, during aregular printing run, some to print in superposed registry, and theremainder simultaneously therewith but not in superposed registry, whichmethod includes passing the web during proof taking only through thoseprinting units that print in superposed registry so as to obtain anindication of the readiness for printing of the work requiringsuperposed registration independently of the remainder of the work whileleaving the remainder of the printing units free for use in anotherregular printing run.

5. The method of proof printing in a rotary eously to print on the web,which method includes passing the web web press equipped with a bank of.multi-color printing units and a single color unit arranged in seriesand adapted, during a regular printing run, to print the multi-colorwork in superposed registry and the single color work simultaneouslytherewith but not in superposed r is y, which method includes passingthe web during proof taking only through the bank of multi-color unitsso as to obtain an indication of the readiness for printing of themulticolor work'independently of the single color work while leaving thesingle color printing unit free for use in another regular printing run,

6. A rotary web printing press including, in combination, a. pluralityof printing units arranged in series and adapted for simultaneousprinting on the web during a regular printing run, means for receivingthe work ofa regular printing run, and an auxiliary wind-up rollassociated with one printing unit of the series to facilitate taking aproof print of the work to be printed by such unit while leaving theremainder of the printing units and the work receiving means free foruse in another regular printing run.

7. A rotary web printing press including, in combination, a bank ofmulti-color printing units and a single color printing unit arranged inseries and adapted for simultaneous printing on the web during a regularprinting run, means for receiving the work of a regular printing run,and an auxiliary wind-up roll to facilitate taking a proof print of themulti-color work independently of the single color work while leavingthe single color. printing unit and the work receiving means free foruse in another regular printing run.

8. A rotary web printing press including, in combination, a plurality ofprinting units arranged in series and adapted for simultaneous printingon the web during a regular printing run, a main paper feed supply andmeans for receiving the printed work of a regular printing run, and awind-up roll and an auxiliary paper feed supply to facilitate taking apoor print of the work coming from one of said units while leaving theremainder of said units, the main paper feed supply and the workreceiving means free for use in another regular printing run.

9. A rotary web printing press including, in combination, a bank ofmulti-color printing units and a single color printing unit arranged inseries and adapted for simultaneous printing on the web during a regularprinting run, a main paper feed supply and means for receiving theprinted work of a regular printing run, and a wind-up roll and anauxiliary paper feed supply to facilitate taking a proof print of themulti-color work independently of the single color work, while leavingthe single color printing unit, the main paper feed supply and the workreceiving means free for use in another regular printing run.

WALTER. MATUBCHKE.

I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,158,701, Novenber 29, 1958.

HALTER NATUSCHKE It is heren; certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requirin vcolumn,line 11b, c1aim8, for the word "poor read proof; and that the saidLetters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the samePatent Office.

may conform to the record of the case in the Signed and sealed this 10thday of January, A. D. 1959.

' Henry Van 'Arsdale (Seal) g correction as follows: Page 5 secondActing Gommis sioner of Patents.

